Middle East

Lebanon detains Israel spy suspect

Senior member of Free Patriotic Movement detained on suspicion of spying for Israel.

04 Aug 2010 17:25 GMT

The suspected spy is a member of the Free Patriotic Movement, an ally of Hezbollah [AFP]

The suspect was the third to be detained over the past week on suspicion of spying for Israel.

A high-ranking army officer and a state telecom operator employee were arrested earlier in week as a result of different security operations.

Spy crackdown

More than 70 people have been arrested on suspicion of spying for the Israel's Mossad intelligence agency since April 2009, when the government launched a nationwide crackdown on suspected agents.

The arrests include members of the security forces and telecom employees.

Michel Sleiman, the Lebanese president, who under Lebanese law must sign a death sentence before it is carried out, has called for severe punishment for spies. The cabinet also agreed that death sentences handed down to spies for Israel should be carried out.

Three men have since been sentenced to death, including one found guilty of aiding Israel during its devastating 2006 war with Hezbollah.